Infant Massage - Why it is Great for Baby & Mother

Many people may not realize that a lot of misbehavior in later childhood or even adulthood such as aggression, obesity, depression, lack of empathy and etc. has been shaped by our unpleasant experiences with parents or main care giver during infancy. Baby needs someone to give her an experience of emotions being managed helpfully, before she can learn to do these things for herself and manage her own feelings well. They need to have these experiences consistently, over and over again, during the first and second years of life.

Infant massage is a great way of soothing a baby. In fact, studies have shown that massaging an infant can reduce crying and fussiness, help her sleep more peacefully, and release constipation and colic.

When we give our baby a massage, we are actually stimulating her central nervous system. Giving infant regular massages is good for her emotional well-being too. Nurturing touch are among the most powerful forms of communication and bonding between babies and parents.

Postnatal depression (PND) has a profound impact on maternal health and wellbeing, and both short-term and long-term implications for mother and infant. Massage may induce oxytocin in both mother and infant and this may promote their bonding relationship. The study indicates that PND mothers are often isolated and vulnerable and yet infant massage is a bridge connecting the mothers to their babies.

Infant massage class has both psychological and physiological benefits. Mother and baby can feel calmed and relaxed during massage as released of oxytocin. Furthermore, mother with depressed and anxious feeling may find difficult to communicate with baby. Infant massage may help mother to understand about baby’s cues or behavioural state.
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Many new parents, upon arriving home with their babies, are in awe of the responsibility of parenthood. Nurturing touch can break through the barrier.

- Lee Wei Wei
Certified Infant Massage Instructor (IAIM)
Certfied HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator
www.babywithbee.com